Sega reveals Binary Domain

Sega has revealed an entirely new IP in the form of Binary Domain. The title comes from Toshihiro Nagoshi, who is perhaps best known for his work on the Yakuza series.

The title is currently being developed for both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Binary Domain puts players in the midst of a battle for humanity set in 2080 Tokyo. In that day and age, robots and machines have started taking over and mankind begins losing their grip on the controls of the world. As a member of an international peace-keeping squad, the player(s) are down to the lower levels of the city and forced to question their motivation.

The game is a squad based shooter set in a futuristic, sci-fi environment. An official web site for the project has been launched at www.binarydomaingame.com where you can keep track of the project’s progress. Sega has also released a teaser trailer and screenshots from the PlayStation 3 version of the title, which you can find below. I wasn’t sure what to think of the game from the first half of the trailer, but there is quite a twist at the end which now has me intrigued at what exactly they have in mind for the story of the game.

The full press release covering the game's announcement is available after the jump.

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WHO IS HUMANITY’S TRUE ENEMY?

LONDON & SAN FRANCISCO (December 1, 2010) – SEGA® Europe Ltd. and SEGA® America, Inc. are pleased to announce Binary Domain™, an original squad-based shooter by Toshihiro Nagoshi, the creator behind some of SEGA’s most well-known video game franchises, including the critically acclaimed Yakuza series. Binary Domain puts players in the middle of a fast-paced and intense battle for humanity in robot-invaded 2080 Tokyo. Fighting through the derelict lower levels of the city, players control an international peace-keeping squad that soon starts to question their surroundings and the choices they are making. Are the robots becoming more human, or are humans becoming more like machines?

“What I wanted to create this time was a dramatic and energetic sci-fi shooter. When you hear sci-fi you may think of cold, clinical environments but with Binary Domain I wanted to combine this with a deep human drama,” commented Toshihiro Nagoshi. “The keyword we have in mind for this project is ’Life’. I wanted to make something that will be accepted by both the Japanese and Western markets, and this fundamental theme is something everyone knows but which the full extent of can be difficult to grasp.”

Binary Domain’s central theme of life is also key to the way the innovative AI system is being developed. The highly advanced AI will make the battlefield a more compelling experience than ever before, and players will have to plan their moves strategically and carefully in order to progress through the hostile environments of the game.

“We are excited and proud to have Toshihiro Nagoshi working on Binary Domain,” said Gary Knight, Senior Vice President of Marketing at SEGA of Europe and SEGA of America. “The game is being developed in Japan yet it is designed for a global audience and will take players into an exhilarating story wrapped into a unique, action-packed shooter experience in a fresh new setting.”

Binary Domain is being developed by SEGA Japan and Yakuza-creator Toshihiro Nagoshi for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. For more information on Binary Domain please visit www.binarydomaingame.com, or for press assets please visit www.sega-press.com.

About SEGA® Europe Ltd.:
SEGA® Europe Ltd. is the European Distribution arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA® Corporation, and a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. SEGA’s global website site is located at www.sega.com.

About SEGA® of America Inc:
SEGA® of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA® Corporation, a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. SEGA of America’s Web site is located at www.sega.com/usa